A bush naturalist visits the asylum - 1881

Front elevation of the Woogaroo female refractory ward (1878)
Queensland State Archive ID 580226

The following post is a composite of five articles first published in the Queenslander and then the Brisbane Courier of March 1881.  

This series of articles belongs to a broader genre of reports by visitors to Woogaroo, some of which have already been reported on in this blog. See my Woogaroo Index for more details.

The author clearly states his purpose in writing the articles “I take up my pen now in order to try and interest people in poor humanity as existing in Woogaroo Lunatic Asylum, and, by describing a visit I paid to that establishment, to create a greater sympathy for this necessary institution.”  This a theme often returned to in the articles. 

Perhaps more interesting is to guess the editorial team's purpose in sending ‘a bush naturalist’ to the asylum. Surely this speaks to a view that the inmates are to be viewed as animals. From my viewpoint with an early 21st Century understanding of mental health and disability the writing is quite offensive. Patients are frequently referred to as imbeciles, halfwits, idiots etc. The ‘bush naturalist’ is frequently surprised that they can do anything of worth. 

But his writing is also supportive of the management of the asylum, Dr Smith the surgeon superintendent is frequently praised, and the level of industry and apparent contentment of the working inmates is observed.  This feeds into a broader narrative about the management of the asylum, to which I would refer the reader to the work of J. Bradshaw Façade of success - Woogaroo Lunatic Asylum 1865-1969. CQU PhD Thesis. (http://hdl.cqu.edu.au/10018/1046363), her themes of toil and sobriety are clear in this 1881 text also.

I. [The Woogaroo Asylum]

Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939), Saturday 12 March 1881, page 333

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20705843 

It has often been my lot, as a writer in these pages, to depict Queensland scenes in their fairest and brightest aspect, to paint Nature in her smiling moods, to try and interest the reader in the love-songe of the birds and the beauty of our Australian woods and dales. But Nature has her sad and silent moods; it is not always fair and bright; and the saddest sight of all is an imbecile man! I take up my pen now in order to try and interest people in poor humanity as existing in Woogaroo Lunatic Asylum, and, by describing a visit I paid to that establishment, to create a greater sympathy for this necessary institution. Asylums for the insane are not now the fearful dens they used to be. Knuckle-dusters, coercion, and villainy have given way to persuasion, kindness, and firmness. At Woogaroo this is most apparent, for as much liberty is given to the patients as is compatible with due safety; light work is found for such as are capable of doing it; and cleanliness, good food, and a good bed are the lot of all. A beautiful view is around, which in itself has a wholesome effect on the mind, and amusements are regularly provided for such as are capable of appreciating them. But there is a want of outside sympathy for the institution, felt not only indirectly by the patients but sensibly by the officers and matrons. People are so apt to cover up these ulcers of society and to shut them out from thought as if they never existed, that Woogaroo is never now mentioned but as a byword, with a jest and a laugh, instead of exciting the sympathy of all to be charitable. " How much could be done by the public if they would," said Dr. Smith to me, "to help to enliven the dull life of these poor fellows! What baskets of flowers and fruit might be sent; what books, pictures, and illustrated papers and toys could be given; and if amateur musicians would spare an evening now and again to give a little concert, or get up some sort of 'penny-reading' or theatrical entertainment, how appreciated it would be! and we officers would not feel that we are altogether isolated from the rest of the world." 

All but the veriest new comers know that Woogaroo Asylum is situated at Goodna, some fourteen miles from Brisbane, and upon the banks of the river. The situation is admirable for its purpose, as from the high hills upon which the newer buildings are placed a most commanding and beautiful view of the country is obtained, and the exquisite water view caused by the double bend of the river gives lightness and completeness to the scene. The place looks healthy too, for the soil is light and porous, and the air feels fresh and wholesome. The state of the hospital bears out this feeling, its inmates being only three men and one woman. It is upon Dr. Patrick Smith that the anxious responsibility of this vast establishment devolves, and on introducing myself as the representative of the Courier and Queenslander I was not only courteously but kindly received, and informed that I should be allowed to see every part of the institution. My first introduction to any patient was to old Miles, who faithfully performs the position of groom, and who now took buggy and horse to the stables. He is a quaint old fellow, a sort of privileged servant, who walks on to the verandah or into the doctor's house, and addresses himself to strangers with the perfectly unabashed air of one of our native blacks. Dinner hour is a great event in the day's routine, but unfortunately I was just too late to see the scene; but to the refractory men's ward we first went, for, as my conductor said, "It is just as well to see the worst first." The large original building on the low ground is used for these patients; it is of two stories, and built of brick. We walked down to it, and a close-boarded 12ft. high fence or wall was come to. A small gate in the wall was opened, and I stepped into the yard attached to the refractory ward. At first the feeling was as if it was simply a prison yard, the high unclimbable wall and the uniform dress of the patients giving this impression. But a glance around revealed what to me was the sad-dest sight I had ever seen.  In the centre of the yard was a large covered shed, under which was a strong and long table, and strong forms and seats, amply sufficient to shelter from the sun or weather all the patients in the yard, yet so per-vene are these poor fellows that many of them never will avail themselves of this shade, but stay out in the sun. Reader, bear with me while I glance around this yard, and tell you what I saw, for it will do you no harm this once to hear of humanity in its saddest form, for thus your sympathy may be aroused and so your charity extended. About sixty men, I should think, were the occupants; some of these were lying or sitting on the table and others on the benches; many of them big powerful fellows, with bushy whiskers (for the prison shave is not enforced here), and of manly appearance until the eye is seen; then, alas, the tale is told, for in that lack-lustre look, in that meaningless stare, we see that the soul's power is gone. Walking rapidly up and down, like a caged lion, is a powerful middle-aged man, a man whose look is dangerous and who is incessantly talking and loudly de-claiming; he is the first one to walk up and salute the doctor and the stranger with him, and he informed me that " Things were not at all properly understood in the world; that Jesus Christ was a much overrated man —at least that was his opinion; that the credit of His teach-ings should by rights be given to the lawyer St. Matthew, in fact that the lawyers were the salt of the earth; witness St. Paul and Moses and Lord Brougham." Much more like this was volubly and incessantly told me, until the doctor wished him good day. This man has actually lived twelve years in this strange home, and has given more trouble than any other patient in the place, and once even managed to escape. His chatter I felt to be a relief from the misery around me. 

In the centre of the yard, squatting down on his feet, with his head between his knees, his arms clasped over the head, and crouched up into the smallest possible space, was one poor fellow. The sun was streaming down on to his bare head, yet he was utterly heedless of anything or anyone around him. "He is always so," I was told. This sitting squatting posture seems to be a favourite one with these worst cases, for in every corner, and at the bottom of the posts of the shed, and at intervals alongside the walls were to be seen these crouching semblances of humanity. Many nationalities are represented in this ward—indeed, they are in all—and all reduced to the one level by the want of mind; the Briton, the German, the Chinaman, are as one in their vacant stare and meaningless face. There are two Australian blacks in this ward; at the call of the doctor they crept from under the shade of a huge fig-tree and stood before us. As I gazed at them I could not help thinking how different to the splendid physical proportions and intelligent vivacity of the manhood of this race as seen in a state of savage nature are these two decrepit insane remnants of what was once a happy and numerous people. A row of single cells is built at one side of this yard; these are conveniently handy for instant use, for among all these poor fellows a paroxysm of extreme violence may at any moment break out, and a separation from the others is immediately necessary. There are many epileptics here, who are never for one moment lost sight of, and who at times must be instantly attended to. These single cells are not punishment cells, but rather safety cages, yet their appearance necessarily is depressing in the extreme, for not even the rudiments of furniture can be allowed; a good thick well-stuffed mattress and a quilted cover being the whole of the fittings, and these frequently are destroyed by filth or in mania. These solitary cells—at least those lately built, are lofty and well ventilated, and all are thoroughly clean. Those poor fellow-creatures whose nightly lot is to be shut up in such gloomy confinement fortunately do not number more than a dozen or so among the men and the same number among the women of the 561 patients under Dr. Smith's care. Poor creatures, they are but as beasts, and know neither cleanliness nor decency, and there is not a ray of hope that their life will ever be any joy to them. 

"Now you have seen the worst in this ward, and these men are all going out to the recreation ground, so come and see where they sleep," said Dr. Smith; and we went into the brick barracks. Here all was spotlessly clean; some rooms had five or six beds, some ten or twelve, some more, and some were for solitaries who could not be trusted with others, but who were amenable to the rule of cleanliness. The beds were all iron stretchers, and upon them the universal thick well-stuffed mattresses, and for covering every bed had perfectly clean sheets, and a heavy counterpane. There was no overcrowding, and ventilation was excellent. The epileptics alone are not allowed bedsteads, as to fall off might be fatal, so their mattresses are put upon the floor. 

The recreation ground is a small paddock, with a pleasant green sward under foot, and the 12ft batten fence around it is not so close but that the view of the surrounding pretty country can be seen. Here football, quasi-cricket, and all sorts of games are indulged in, and even the refractories are quieter and more amenable than when in the yards, but I noticed some of these poor crouchers immediately assume their doubled-up attitude, sitting with their doubtless throbbing head again between their knees, thinking—God only knows what, or if at all, or if they are but as a figure of stone!" 

Before showing you the industrial workings of the place," said Dr. Smith, "we will go into the next ward, which I am afraid you will find to be even a sadder sight than the last, for in it are the aged, the paralytic, the epileptic, and the imbecile." Another yard is entered, this time the fencing, although high, is not closely boarded, and no single cells open into it; neither were the inmates so numerous, perhaps forty men, but I only write from a mental note. In the centre is the usual open large and cool shelter shed; running the length of this is a table; on this there were as usual one or two sitting and lounging. These were the better patients of this ward, and there was nothing more idiotic than usual in their looks; but a painful sight was around, for ranged in two regular rows, one on each side of the table, like beds in a hospital, were the well-known comfortable squatter chairs of the bush—those creations of canvas and battens which do duty for sofas in every verandah—and lying on these, each one with its own occupant, was that saddest sight on earth—the paralytic lunatic! Here is one whose idiotic stare is intensified by the constant jerkings of St. Vitus's dance; near by, coiled up in another chair, utterly unconscious of our approach, is a young man, once a lively active boy, who was kicked on the jaw by a horse, and which some way caused a cessation in the development of the brain, and now he is transformed into a hopeless idiot. "Ah, this old man must have been a shepherd," I said, as we paused before a gray-headed old man. "Yes, you are quite right," was the reply from my conductor. Poor fellow, my sympathy for him was great, for my thoughts took me back to the time when I had much to do with his class; it reminded me of the words so often, in olden times, heard by the sheep overseer, "Please, sir, I am getting very dry, could you send a man to take my flock for a week or two." And here before me is the ending of these bush "sprees"—this gray-haired, rheumatic-struck, paralytic idiot, who feebly lifts his head at the cheery salutation of the doctor, stares vacantly at the stranger, incoherently mutters a word or two, and again subsides into nonentity. Oh, ye vendors of alcoholic poisons! is it on you, or is it on the manufacturer, or on the merchant who sells wholesale, that punishment for the frightful destruction of mind evidenced in this asylum as brought on by strong drink will fall? Or is it to be, as to us on this earth appears to be the case, that the victims only will suffer? 

No need to particularise the occupants of the other chairs; one is but a repetition, with variations, of the other; in each one is, to be seen blank insanity, or aged idiotic imbecility. Poor fellows, they are as comfortable as they can be made, and are as tenderly cared for as children— which, indeed, they are, aged children—for they are fed, are clothed, are put to bed, and in the fine days are carried out into the fresh pure air, where, in these comfortable chairs, they lounge and—exist without thought! 

[to be continued.]

II. INDUSTRIAL OCCUPATIONS.

Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Wednesday 23 March 1881, page 5

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article919772

Leaving the paralytic imbeciles to doze away their life in the comfortable chairs of this ward, the next yard I was shown into was a populous one, the number of patients being about equal to what I saw in the refractory division, but there was a decided improvement in their physique; however, here also was much to distress the eye; for, walking rapidly up and down, shouting at the top of his voice, and so making a terrible noise, was a red-whiskered, rough-looking bush-man — a victim to alcohol. The impression forced upon the stranger by a sight like this is astonishment that no one takes any notice of another's eccentricities; all this man's bawling created not the slightest sensation; that poor fellow lying flat on the ground, with legs extended and head buried in his hands, never even stirred; those three miserables coiled up and crouching against the fence took no heed when their noisy companion came near them; even the more intelligent who were sitting under the shelter shed were utterly heedless of the raving of their fellow maniac; and the warders gave no heed to it. As long as no violence is shown the patient can rave and do what he likes; there is no restraint, the only precaution taken being to put him in a ward in which he can do no harm, and among such fellow-patients as cannot be influenced by his excitement. When I asked Dr Smith the cause of this man's excitement the answer was "Poor fellow ! It is only a case of delirium tremens, and he is now recovering."

However, the saddest sight in this yard was not this noisy drinker, but a young-looking man who was standing alone, still as a statue, rigidly immovable. Out there in the centre of the yard he is heedless of the hot rays of the sun and of everyone and everything around him; one hand is stretched out in front of him, and the eyes are never for a moment lifted from the ground. Thus all the day long he stands, apparently in the deepest thought, in reality — thoughtless! Solitary and soulless, he exists but as a living monument, for the man within is dead! Poor fellow, my sympathy for him was keen indeed. This solitary standing seems common among the worse class of patients, but in no other case did I notice such excessive immobility.

But enough of these sad scenes, they could be multiplied by one hundred, and each one be as sad as the other. May the few I have described help to increase the sympathy of the charitable, and so cause them to sometimes think of these unfortunate fellow colonists of ours!

I will now pass on to the pleasanter parts of the establishment — for even at Woogaroo it is not all dark. The domestic arrangements of the place are well carried out. The bakery was the first of those I happened to enter. It is in charge of an expert tradesman, whose only assistants are patients. The bakehouse was thoroughly clean and the bread most excellent. I was pleased with the evident pride the man took in his work as he showed me the ovens, in which were hundreds of loaves nicely browning, and insisted upon cutting a loaf to show how good it was. The number of loaves baked every day is 350 to 400.

The kitchen was a busy place indeed. Here again the chef is the only paid man; and a smart man he need be, too, to cook for such a vast establishment, with only insanity as an assistant; notable among these assistants is a powerful Chinaman, who has long been a resident of the asylum. The blacksmith's shop is a useful adjunct to the place; all the bedsteads used are of iron, and are made in this shop, and the repairing of tools and machinery keeps the forge and vice always at work. It is presided over by a paid mechanic, whose only assistants again are patients. The sawmill was a very busy sight — one that quite astonished me by its comparative magnitude, for I saw a powerful steam-engine turning a large circular saw and breaking down logs worthy of Pettigrew's mill. The adjoining timber-yard was full of sawn stuff of all lengths and thicknesses, and numbers of patients were busily at work. But the carpenter's shop was a still more surprising sight and a yet busier scene. There were, I should think, quite half-a-dozen well-made double benches, at each end of which was the usual screw, and at every bench work was going on as regularly and exactly as if it had been a city joinery. I could hardly credit it when I was told that one only of all the men before me was not a patient — that all the mortising, measuring, and other exact work going on was being done by those who were incapable of taking care of themselves, and who yet were showing every evidence of reason in their work, and who, besides, were in constant reach of tools which might prove deadly weapons at any moment. Alas, it was only necessary for me to stroll among the benches and address a word to the workmen to discover that reason had only partial control. This shop and all these men are under the superintendence of one skilled artisan, and wonderful is the work that has been done in it, both in quality and quantity. It is Dr Smith's constant thought and study to find suitable work for his patients; all that can be employed are so employed that there must be some little exercise of the mind. The work is never so excessive as to fatigue, but sufficient to ensure health. I was much struck with the difference in demeanour between these poor witless men and the workers as seen in penal establishments and gaols. At Woogaroo there was no sign of the "Government stroke;" all seemed to work with a will and to the best of their reason, and there was not the sulky dogged look of the criminal about them. The great inducement to work is the tobacco which they are allowed, but the willingness to labour is one of the first signs of recovery of reason. Tables, long and strong deal tables, constitute the principal furniture of the Asylum; I had noticed this as I went through, as they are in every room but the sleeping apartments, and in every yard. As the patients delight to sit and lounge on them they need be well made, and this they certainly are. There is an immense lot of wooden fencing around the various yards and wards; these are rather wooden walls 12ft. high and made of sawn hardwood. All this has been put up, and the strong tables manufactured by the patients themselves. The trees were cut on the reserve, the logs sawn up at the mill, and the wall built by the inmates, and it is well done too. Near the saw-mill is the dam for supplying water to the place; the watershed that fills it is kept sacred from contamination by cattle or horses. At present it has been pumped very low, and a party of patients were at the time of my visit engaged in clearing out the mud from the bottom and heightening the dam. These men were working willingly and cheerfully, and again I was struck with the difference between the prison gang and these unfortunates, to the manifest advantage of the latter. There was here no armed overseer ostentatiously standing with loaded rifle in hand, but the one warder in charge had his coat off and was busily setting an example in filling the barrow and the cart — an example which was willingly followed; but no coercion was used, each one appeared to do only just as much as he cared to do. From this dam the water is pumped into a reservoir upon the top of the highest hill, and thus, by gravity, a pressure is got which is sufficient even for fire extinguishing purposes, except for the newest building near the reservoir itself, and for this special power will have to be provided. The view from this hill is superb, and it now seems extraordinary that the original founders of the Asylum should have chosen the low lands upon which all the older buildings are erected, and which in flood time are covered with water quite up to the doors of the wards, in preference to the airy pleasant site on the hill top. The piggeries were the next "ward" to which I found my way. The scraps and waste from such a numerous congregation of people as are in this little colony must of necessity be very considerable, and the best use to make of it is to turn it into pork; no less than 140 pigs are at present in the sties. To keep such a large number in health, and so that they shall not be a nuisance, can only be done by having properly constructed sties; this end has been gained by building them upon the slope of the hill, a trap door in the floor enabling them to be easily cleaned out, and the offal falling into a barrow is at once wheeled away. Our farmers might with advantage imitate this example. The pigs all look well, and there is a pure Berkshire boar among them remarkable for its size and symmetry. Breeding sows are principally kept, and as an adjunct to the sties a pig-proof paddock is being made, for it is found that where so many are kept confined in a small space the number of young produced at a litter rapidly decreases; and the resources of the establishment are equal to the production of twice as many as are now kept. One old patient has these pigs in his charge, and he seems as happy and delighted with them as if they were his own. The cow-shed adjoins the piggery, and here again our farmers might take a hint, for each cow is allowed a separate stall, in which is a bail and feeding-rack, the whole building being comfortable and clean, and neither the milker nor the animal is exposed to weather. The cows are milked by patients, and I was astonished when told that these substantial farm buildings had all been erected by the labour of the inmates, under the guidance of the one special head carpenter. A large heap of well decayed cow and pig manure was now being carted out to the field for the coming planting of the potato crop; a group of patients were busy at this work, loading the dray, which was also driven by one of them. The cultivation ground attached to the establishment consists of a river flat, and the soil is good. The greater portion of this is in lucerne for the cows and horses, and it was a pleasant contrast to the scenes in the yards to watch the dozen patients cutting, raking up, and loading this lucerne. It is nice light work, as there are plenty of them to do it, and although they are using hayforks and scythes, which could be turned into deadly weapons, an accident never happens, unreliable men being never put to such work. I saw about five acres already ploughed and harrowed, and it was on to this the manure was being carted preparatory to at once commencing potato planting. The ploughing is not done by the patients, a hired man being required for the skilled agricultural work as well as for the other skilled occupations. Millet is grown for the cows, and a few acres of sweet potatoes; also a full acre of tomatoes for use in the kitchen. All the water from the washhouse is used for irrigating some of the low ground, and but for this an acre or two of pumpkins would have this year proved a failure. The farm of course does not pretend to supply the wants of the establishment; it would take far more land than there is here capable of cultivation to grow even the potatoes required. The object of it is to find a light pleasant outdoor occupation for such patients as require that treatment.

Notwithstanding the length to which this report has been extended, so vast is this establishment for the control of our lunatics that I find I have not said a word about the ward for pay-patients and convalescents, or about the female branch (the saddest of any), or of the new buildings, or of the merry dance that I witnessed in the evening. These subjects I must therefore leave for another paper.

III. The Convalescent Wards.

Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Wednesday 6 April 1881, page 5

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article918938

The ward for those patients whose friends can afford to pay for their support is a one-storied building pleasantly situated up on the top of the hill; the rooms are single-bedded, but except in its isolation it is in all respects similar to any of the others. Nearby are two recently erected two-storied brick buildings. These are for convalescent patients, and are built according to the latest devised and best plan of carrying out the cottage-system of lunatic asylum. In them the "prison" is entirely eliminated, and the patient while sitting upon the upper balcony and viewing the panorama of mountains in the distance, with the foreground of forest, through which every hour or so can be seen the railway train whizzing along, has every opportunity of recovering both bodily and mental health. The spotlessly clean floor, white walls, regular beds, and scanty furniture, however, give a strong smack of the "hospital" to the place, but this is unavoidable. The large main building for convalescents is also high up on the hill. A number of men were in the enclosed ground — it is no longer a yard — but none of these showed any of those distressing symptoms so common in the other wards; indeed it would take the stranger some time before he would detect that anything was amiss with many of those around him. There is a large dining-room in the building, and on the walls are hung maps of the world, and of various countries, and pictures taken from the Graphic and other illustrated papers; these latter are pasted on a stretched calico ground-work, and being varnished give a wonderful relief to the "hospital" feeling before mentioned. I noticed a bagatelle table in the room, and many of the men were reading, for books are supplied from the asylum library and changed every week from ward to ward. Donations of books will be thankfully received; novels, light reading, or illustrated works, are most suitable. One sailer-looking man was intently poring over a map of the world; he had found out Australia, and was evidently looking for something. Expressing to Dr. Smith my impression that surely that man was sane, he stepped up to him and asked him what he wanted to find. Poor fellow! he was looking for the telegraph cable between King George's Sound and Brisbane which he had helped to lay when a sailor; he could find Brisbane and Melbourne, but when King George's Sound was pointed out to him by the doctor he would not have it that it was there at all, and we left him hunting for that place, in — New Guinea! There was nothing distressing to the eye in this ward; all was bright and cheerful compared with those lower down the hill. There is, of course, an unclimbable fence around the building, but it is some distance off and is of open battens, so that the view is not entirely obstructed, and, moreover, the area enclosed is large and includes several of these newer buildings, so that the effect of being confined in a yard is scarcely noticeable. It is Dr. Smith's intention this year to plant the whole of this enclosure with shade trees, shrubs, and flowers, and already he has had made a bowling green. Another great, very great, improvement he contemplates introducing as soon as the dam-making is finished. It is the making a 6ft. deep ha-ha, and placing this 12ft. high fence in it; thus the patients at the buildings will be able to see completely over for it is on somewhat lower ground, and the 3ft. of fencing that remains above ground will have none of that prison-yard look so distressing to the convalescent, who will be securely imprisoned without the fact being forced upon him every time he looks at the beautiful scenery around him.

The kitchen arrangements and accommodation are now insufficient for the establishment, and they are awkwardly situated, being in one of the old buildings on the flooded land. So a new and commodious kitchen and laundry is being erected upon the top of the hill, it is of brick and is being done by contract work, not patient labour; it will be built in the ornamental style of the new "cottage" wards. It is Dr. Smith's intention to have a tramway running down the hill from this kitchen to all the wards on the lower levels in order that the dinners may be easily sent down; as it is now is the great majority of them have to be laboriously carried up hill. The tramway will of course be con-structed by the patients, and the rails used will probably be discarded ones from the railway.

The intention is that all future additions shall be erected upon the hill in the form of a crescent of detached buildings; thus all will have the benefit of the purer air and of the beautiful scenery around, and will be removed beyond the reach of fog and flood. The wards being so detached the risk from fire is reduced to a minimum, and the occurrence of such a frightful tragedy as lately happened at the burning of an American asylum will be rendered absolutely impossible.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

IV. THE FEMALE DIVISION.

Queenslander (Brisbane, Qld. : 1866 - 1939), Saturday 9 April 1881, page 460

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page2250554

Doubtless some lady readers will anxiously ask, "How fares it with the poor women whom fate casts into this refuge?" Well, I will tell them; for I was admitted into all, even the very worst, of the female wards, in order that I might be able to give the public an answer to this very question. Of the 561 patients in Woogaroo and Ipswich, 223 are women. Their quarters are all upon the top of the hill, and completely separated from those of the men. The sad scenes of the one are just duplicated in the other, but all is not sad; there is a good deal that is bright and lively, and I will tell it first. Miss Millar is the matron, and on this lady devolves the chief control of all the females — truly an anxious and a heavy responsibility, and one requiring the peculiar temperament which combines the nerve of a man with the sympathetic kindness of a woman to effectually carry out Miss Millar possesses both. The new convalescent cottage of this division is a facsimile of the one in the men's department. It is two stories high, built of brick, with lofty walls and well ventilated rooms, but the view from the upper verandah far surpasses that I described as from the corresponding balcony of the men's quarters, for it looks down upon the most charming river view possible—one of Nature's lovely tit-bits, a scene which cannot but have a salutary effect on the returning reason of the convalescent. These upper balconies, like the walls of the staircase, are protected by wire netting, to prevent any attempt at jumping off or down. 

I was duly introduced to Miss Millar, and that lady first conducted me to the workroom. Here was indeed a busy and cheerful sight, for sitting in a double row facing each other were some thirty women, all sewing at some sort of garment. At the end of the row was a Singer's sewing machine, which one of Miss Millar's assistants, who superintends this department, was working. At one corner on a table was a pile of print dresses in the rough; and the whole scene was bustlingly cheerful. When it is considered that all the clothes worn in the establishment, men's as well as women's, are made by the patients, it will become evident that there is plenty to do; also all needlework connected with the beds, sheets, quilted coverings, towels, &c, is done by the female patients; and the repairing is in itself a heavy item, for taking care of their clothes is the last thing thought of by most of the inmates. Leaving this busy hive, I was taken to the wash-house; here again all was bustle, steam, and slop. Order and system evidently were well carried out, for there was no confusion, and nothing whatever to indicate that there was anything abnormal in the washers. All around the sides of the large shed were troughs of convenient size and height, and at each compartment of these was a patient washing. In the centre were some half-dozen square boilers, each of which is heated by a steam coil in the bottom, and this steam is supplied from a pressure boiler in the yard, which is attended to by a paid workman, not by a patient. Adjoining the wash-house is the laundry; it seemed full to excess with the results of the day's wash, and in mates were busy folding and mangling. Neither the wash-house nor the laundry is nearly large enough to be conveniently worked; but when the latter is removed to the new building now being erected things will be better. The opinion I formed from my casual visit was that these witless women worked with more zest than do many of our domestic servants in Brisbane, and I certainly must compliment Miss Millar upon the efficiency of her working army. But some of the women will not work, and there are, again, others who cannot be trusted to do so; there are incorrigibles among them as well as among the men, and these I was to be next shown. 

The yard into which I was now taken had a shelter shed in it, and benches and a table under its shade. Here the scene in the men's yard was but repeated, only — frightful to contemplate! — all these were women. No work was going on, and there were many bad cases here, for the patients were idiotically sitting or sprawling around. Flitting about and between, over the benches and over the table, was a child of some eleven or twelve years; in her hand she carried a bunch of green grass, which I was told she never, if she can help it, parts with. This poor little girl has been an idiot from birth, docile and lively as long as she has this bunch of grass in her hand — an uncontrollable chattering idiot when without it. Poor daft child! badly begotten and witless as thou art, this love for the green grass gives hopes that the soul within thee is not entirely dead; perhaps when freed from thy wretched body it may expand and find a heaven at last; who can say thee nay? 

Crouching down in a far corner of the yard, away from all the other inmates, was a poor demented woman in an agony of mental woe. Creeping close to the fence, as if for protection from fancied devils, was another patient — a tall dark-haired woman in a paroxysm of madness; shriek after shriek she uttered, her eyes literally glaring with horror, and with an expression of extreme terror on her one-time handsome face, as she never for one minute ceased from her loud declamation and cries. For three days had this outbreak continued, and the matron told me that, although as much liberty as possible was given, to prevent her exciting the others, it was probable, this poor woman would have to be confined. What is it that these poor demented fellow-beings of ours see and hear and talk to, and are frightened of, and are the unfortunate tools of? Is it possible that there is a world of phantoms just beneath the ken of normal eye sight, to which when the body is weakened by disease or drink it then becomes a prey? Is there any truth in the old Scripture text which says that devils go about seeking whom they can devour? Verily, I believe it, and I put down many of these lunatic cases to the old Scripture notion of possession by devils — that is, evil spirits; but Dr. Smith and the medical faculty tell me I am wrong, and that the stomach, epilepsy, and malformation of body and excess, will account for it all. 

"Is there any worse ward than this?" I asked. "Yea", was the answer; "these you now see are not incurable. I wish you to see all. They are in the next ward." So into it I was taken, and I glanced around. Ah! fair reader, the sad sad scene that met my eye — I will not, for I cannot, depict it, but say, "Enough of these distressing pictures;" surely I have given sufficient to rouse your sympathy and charity. Remember, you mothers and daughters who are healthy, or happy, or fair, that many in this yard were once as you, and now they apparently are — soulless! aye, even worse than the beasts of the field. So, think of them, and send them heaps of baskets of flowers and fruit and toys and pictures; not once and for all, but regularly and systematically; and you will be the cause of giving much simple pleasure to some at least of these unfortunates; others, alas, whose present situation is the result of crime, debauchery, and lust, are beyond redemption or even amelioration of condition.

[TO BE CONTINUED.]

V. MUSIC AND DANCING

Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864 - 1933), Saturday 16 April 1881, page 6

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article918135

It took the entire afternoon to show me over this complete establishment, but when we had finished our round Dr Smith said he could not let me go yet awhile — that I must have a counter-irritant to the sad scenes I had witnessed in the shape of a sight of the dancing in the big hall, which would take place that evening.

How strange is the freemasonry of the gaol, or of places like this and how rapidly does news spread! While I was sitting in the verandah of Dr Smith's cottage, old Miles, the lunatic groom, came up and gave me a piece of his mind about "editor folk," whom he abused right royally for writing in the newspapers nothing but "lies;" only he emphasised this word by putting a strong adjective before it. Then he went off at a tangent by telling a rambling story of his taking, in his boyish days, the sermon-book out of the coat-tail pocket of a parson, and how the parson swore when he found it gone, and then he got to growling at Dr. Smith for keeping him imprisoned. This is the end of all their ramblings of tongue; commence how they will, one and all get back to the same theme — "Why are they kept in prison?"

It was pleasant while sitting in this verandah, after having had a refreshing cup of tea, to suddenly hear the lively strains of dance music spring up from the building below. It seems that by dint of practice among the warders and employés of the place an excellent instrumental band has been formed, and that upon every alternate Wednesday evening some two hours of dancing is indulged in. This is carried on all through the year, except in the hot summer months, and it is the one bright spot that gives light to the dreary occupations of all in the place. On going down to the ballroom I found it crowded, and dancing in full swing. The patients were arranged in rows on each side, the men on one side and women on the opposite the band is placed in an alcove at one end and at the other is a raised platform, upon which was a good piano, and seats for the superintendents or visitors. Among the dancers were the young folk of the warders, and people in other ways connected with the establishment, and also some of the younger warders and nurses. These, when we entered, were dancing a quadrille. It is not many of the patients who care for the quadrille or waltz; the figures are rather too intricate and delicate for them, they prefer the jig. To my astonishment, amongst this quadrille party, going through the figures correctly and in a gentlemanly and quiet manner, was the very man whom I had observed as so excessively noisy in his talk in the first yard I went into; the man who expressed so free an opinion about Christ, and who has given so much trouble to the authorities. He never misses these balls, and he joins every dance, and evidently considers himself a long way above the rest of the crowd. On the conclusion of the quadrille Mr. Hamilton, the chief warder, and the master of the ceremonies, gave orders to "choose partners for a jig." At these magic words all was delight, instantly a number of the men jumped up and ran over to the other side, and secured their favourite partners. A long double line was formed, and the fun began. No sad scene now, no crouching and moaning alone, or dreaming of phantoms; on the contrary, all was jollity and merriment. How these witless fellow-beings do enjoy this simple jig! each one in his own style, will have it that his is the best, and the variety is extraordinary. The floor need be strong to stand that stamping. No wonder this Wednesday evening enjoyment is looked forward to by them all, it is indeed a glorious institution for giving relief to these troubled minds. In spite of the hilarity there was not the slightest misbehaviour; all seemed as happy as overgrown children, as they are. I don't think they would ever tire, but the band tires, and stops, when instantly all are in their places again. This enjoyment is kept up till 9 o'clock, then tea and cake are allowed as a supper, and the one bright day of the week's existence is over. Dr Smith was quite right in insisting on my remaining to see that there is a bright and merry evening to be spent even in — Woogaroo.

I cannot conclude these papers without testifying to the thorough order and complete systematic working of the asylum, also to the spotless cleanliness and excellent sanitary arrangements, the dry-earth system is carried out in its entirety, and the contents of the whole of the outhouses are removed every day. The general health of the patients is good, only four being in hospital, and they were incurable. It is Dr Smith's wish to carry out the cottage system to its fullest development — that is, more complete subdivision of the patients. That this is much needed is apparent even to a casual visitor like myself; more especially is it necessary among the women. But subdivision means more buildings, and that means more money, and a parliamentary vote for a lunatic asylum is not a popular one. People should remember that, although there is among the inmates the very essence of crime and immorality, and though in many cases their present condition is only a punishment brought on by themselves, yet a large minority of the patients are there through unfortunate circumstances, such as prenatal causes, accidents, excess of grief or joy, persons of emotional and affectionate nature, and all these are worthy of pity and consideration and of the most tender treatment.

Dr Smith wished me to take notice of the rapid increase in the influx of new patients for this year, no less than twenty-five fresh cases having come to him in January and February last. This is at the rate of 150 a-year — a most alarming fact when our small population is considered. However it may be only temporary; perhaps the hot summer weather has had something to do with it, let us hope so, for it is a disagreeable fact.

Reader, I was sent as a reporter to Woogaroo in order to let you know what goes on there, and neither editorial fiat nor the medical superintendent of the asylum put the slightest restriction upon my report. I have just told of things as I found them.